here is one of my favorite shots of Harold. He's perfect. i couldn't imagine talking bad about such a legend. i'd be honored just to be in the same room as him. i'll never be in the same class as him and not many will.

That arm shot is amazing. Any idea what year it is from? Those 50's and 60's champs are the ones that paved the way for bodybuilders today and they deserve respect for their accomplishments. Not to mention the fact that Harold made a nice comeback in the 80's. Whatever he wants to do, be it compete again(at any level) or just be active in his training, I think it's wonderful for him and us that he is trying to improve his physique. GO HAROLD.

Denie, very generously, sent that shot to me for Harold's web site. I believe that it is from the 70s and was taken at Mid City Gym in NYC. It comes from a larger series of photos that all appear to be from the same day. Serge Nubret was in the gym too. There are shots of Serge and Harold trading sets of bench press.

I believe Freddy Ortiz was also in those photos with HP and Serge. They were in MTI. Denie sent them to me a while back when I asked him about HP. HP was huge and in those photos he hasn't even been pumped up , he was just getting back in to BB. it was truly an injustice that he didn't win at least ONE Olympia. This will always be a huge mistake in the history of BB and the Olympia. IMHO

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If you don't think god has a sense of humor ........then take a look in the mirror !

Titles don't mean as much as those who win them often think. For instance, Mike Mentzer never won the Mr. Olympia and often lost in the pro shows but he's more famous than a number of Mr. Olympia winners. Tom Platz hardly ever won any contests but look at his impact. Freddie Ortiz is another. You would think Freddie had won the Mr. Olympia for how famous he was and is. Harold Poole is another top legend in the sport despite the fact that he didn't win the Olympia. Look at how we are gushing over his physique! It ought to make Harold very proud that he is not only not forgotten but still worshiped!!!!!

Richard,That is a very good point you make. I have to agree it seems like the "fans" make a bigger deal and continue too complain about a particular BB not winning a title..........MYSELF included. Sometimes not winning makes you that much more famous. I just wonder though if it still bothers some who didn't win?

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If you don't think god has a sense of humor ........then take a look in the mirror !

Titles don't mean as much as those who win them often think. For instance, Mike Mentzer never won the Mr. Olympia and often lost in the pro shows but he's more famous than a number of Mr. Olympia winners. Tom Platz hardly ever won any contests but look at his impact. Freddie Ortiz is another. You would think Freddie had won the Mr. Olympia for how famous he was and is. Harold Poole is another top legend in the sport despite the fact that he didn't win the Olympia. Look at how we are gushing over his physique! It ought to make Harold very proud that he is not only not forgotten but still worshiped!!!!!

I agree, Richard! Chuck Sipes is another guy who never won the Olympia, but look how we always gush over him! Like Harold, he did win Mr. A and Mr. U but not the Olympia.

Many of the guys who lose under, let's just say, "controversial" circumstances (like Harold at the 1966 Olympia) are quite "over it" by now, thank you very much. I think, for example, of the never-ending desire, on the part of fans of the sport, to hash and rehash the results of both the 1980 and 1981 Olympias. In those cases, Chris Dickerson, who came in second at both, and should therefore logically have the biggest gripe, doesn't give a rat's a** about how it turned out. Now, I can hear some saying "Well, why should he, he won it in 1982" . . . But that brings to mind Danny Padilla, a name that comes up most often in the "wronged in 1981" discussions. He too, at this point in his life, could not give a rodent's derriere about that show . . . And yet the debates rage on. Having said all of that, the sting of the 1966 defeat (MUCH more so than 1965) had stayed with Harold for a good long time . . . this was true for many reasons (both personal and related to the sport). In fact, it was only in the last year or so that all of the major parties involved in this 43-year-old "issue" opened a cordial and conciliatory dialog about what happened and about truly "letting bygones be bygones" . . . Even big Joe W. got involved (much to my shock and amazement) . . . And so, while I heartily agree with Richard's assessment of the relative importance of winning a particular title, I have to say that, in the case of Harold and '66 Olympia, this "score" took most of my lifetime (I was born in 1965) to settle.

Another interesting note: Regarding that color cover posted above. When Jeff very kindly stepped up to the plate (or the scanner, as the case may be) to help me get a good 8x10 for Harold to sell on his web site. I noticed that that cover was a negative print (backwards). The discolored birth mark on one of Harold's shoulders was on the wrong shoulder. We "straightened that out" when I worked up the 8x10 print version for his site. That photo still blows my mind every time I look at it on the wall of my office. Not bad for a 19-year-old!

another interesting note: Regarding that color cover posted above. When Jeff very kindly stepped up to the plate (or the scanner, as the case may be) to help me get a good 8x10 for Harold to sell on his web site. I noticed that that cover was a negative print (backwards). The discolored birth mark on one of Harold's shoulders was on the wrong shoulder. We "straightened that out" when I worked up the 8x10 print version for his site. That photo still blows my mind every time I look at it on the wall of my office. Not bad for a 19-year-old!

i agree. i had to have a copy in my gym, so i ordered one of your photos of Harold. It's one of my favorite. He looks just outstanding in that shot.